title
PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING LORRIE WARD FOR RECEIVING THE NON-FORMAL EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION OF ILLINOIS
WHEREAS, in April 2020 Lorrie Ward received the Non-Formal Educator of the Year Award from the Environmental Education Association of Illinois (EEAI); this award, limited to one recipient each year, is presented for exhibiting innovative and exemplary effort in providing environmental education opportunities for general audiences; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Ward has been with the Forest Preserves of Cook County for over 11 years, and served in the last 10 years at Sagawau Environmental Learning Center which offers field science programs for adult and high school groups, as well as public adult and family programs; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Ward is a leader in developing interesting and engaging geology and earth science programs that resonate with a wide range of people, and she invites people to read the landscape and understand how geology influences our daily lives; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Ward is a creative nature interpreter who leads hundreds of school and public programs every year ranging from native plants to wildlife telemetry and Illinois fossils to glacial geology; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Ward’s accomplishments are many and include presenting at the 2019 Wild Things Conference on the Geology of Northeastern Illinois to 450 attendees, teaching the University of Illinois - Extension South Cook County Master Naturalist workshop on Geology and leading programs and tours of Sagawau for teachers that qualify for professional development hours; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Ward offers a myriad of field science programming and advocates for the development of new and updated programs which include topics on lichens, trees, grasses, hummingbirds, warblers, grasshoppers and more; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Ward leads interpretive programs on skis in the winter as a Level I Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) Nordic Ski instructor, becoming one of PSIA’s first instructors in the nation certified in teaching senior citizens; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Ward serves the greater environmental education community by participating in the planning committee for the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Unearth Science Festival and serves on internal committees for the Forest Preserves including the Animal Care Committee and the Conservation@Home Committee; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Ward is an amazingly gifted environmental educator, who is remarkable at demystifying complex subjects and successfully reaches her audience through her curiosity and respect for nature and people; the Forest Preserves is fortunate to have her and looks forward to seeing her continue to grow and excel as a naturalist and leader.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Toni Preckwinkle, President, and the Board of Commissioners of the Forest Preserves of Cook County thank and congratulate Lorrie Ward for being recognized as EEAI’s Non-Formal Educator of the Year for her commitment to connecting people with nature; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be presented to Lorrie Ward as a token of appreciation for her service to the Forest Preserves of Cook County and the residents of Cook County.
end